Tag: TPS
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STS-128: Flight Day 2 Inspections complete on Discovery’s TPS
The STS-128 crew have completed Flight Day 2’s activities, which focused on the opening inspections of Discovery’s Thermal Protection System (TPS), along with the checkouts of the orbiter’s docking systems ahead of Sunday night’s arrival at the International Space Station (ISS). Discovery launched Friday night on what is initially being described as a very clean ascent.…
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STS-128: Managers head into FRR debate – Void in suspect IFR highlighted
The Space Shuttle Program (SSP) Flight Readiness Review (FRR) heads into a two day meeting on Tuesday, with the focus on the status of ET-132’s Ice Frost Ramps (IFRs). STS-128 may have to rollback for modifications to the ramps – if managers fail to agree on risk acceptance. Interestingly, documentation on the ramp that has…
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Understanding ET-131’s rogue foam liberations leads to ET-132 confidence
Although no ill effects were suffered by Endeavour, the problems with her External Tank (ET-131) – both prior and during last month’s launch – called for investigations into the downstream tanks, the latest of which is due to fly with Discovery later this month. Thanks to those evaluations, additional confidence has been gained ahead of…
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Endeavour lands back in Florida – Ice noted during FCS checkout
Endeavour has concluded her STS-127 mission by returning to her home base at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida. She landed at 10:48am local time on Flight Day 17 of the highly successful mission to the International Space Station (ISS). One item of interest – relating to observed debris near the vehicle – was…
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Endeavour completes Late Inspections – Candidate found for ET-131 foam loss
Following the conclusion of STS-127 docked phase of the mission, Flight Day 15 involved a Late Inspection survey on Endeavour’s Thermal Protection System (TPS). Meanwhile, an investigation into the foam losses from External Tank ET-131 during Endeavour’s ascent has indentified a leading candidate for why a large amount of foam shed from the Intertank. STS-127 Latest: Endeavour…
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STS-128: Discovery rolls to VAB on Sunday following ET-132 clearance
Shuttle engineers like to check, double check, and check again, whenever there’s a flight safety concern – and that was more than the case with the pull tests that have been conducted on External Tank ET-132, following an increased number of foam liberation events during ET-131’s ride to orbit with Endeavour. The test results show…
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STS-128: Completed ET-132 intertank pull tests show positive results
The foam liberation from Endeavour’s External Tank (ET-131) intertank may have been a one-off event, as all 26 pull tests on ET-132’s intertank show no signs of weakness in the tank set to fly with Discovery next month. However, minor damage was sustained on the tank after a tube-lock broke loose and fell from scaffolding…
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Endeavour cleared for entry ahead of EVA-2 – ET-132 tests begin
STS-127 Spacewalkers Dave Wolf and Tom Marshburn have completed EVA-2, following robotic work to handover the Integrated Cargo Carrier-Vertical Light Deploy (ICC-VLD) to the Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS). Meanwhile, Endeavour has been cleared for re-entry following the DAT (Damage Assessment Team) evaluations on the orbiter’s TPS (Thermal Protection System), while Discovery’s ET-132 intertank…
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STS-127: Endeavour completes RPM and Docks with ISS – TPS latest
Endeavour has docked with the International Space Station (ISS) on Flight Day 3, following a stunning RPM (Rbar Pitch Maneuver) – allowing engineers on the ground to make extensive evaluations into the orbiter’s Thermal Protection System (TPS). So far, engineers expect to see only minor cosmetic damage on Endeavour’s heatshield, following several debris events during her…
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STS-127: Foam loss observed on ET intertank images – FD2 inspections
Flight Day 2 for the crew of STS-127 focused on carrying out inspections of Endeavour’s Thermal Protection System (TPS), following Wednesday’s launch enroute to the International Space Station (ISS). Several debris events were noted during ascent, with ET photography showing numerous areas of missing foam on ET-131 – especially at the intertank region. STS-127 Latest: Shortly after reaching orbit,…